Samsung Believes That by 2019, Foldable Display Phones Will Become Popularized

Near bezel-less smartphones are definitely looking to be the future of mobile devices, and major phone manufacturers have decided to introduce a major overhaul as far as the handset design goes. First came the G6, followed by the Galaxy S8 and during the month of September, we will finally know what Apple has been up to for so long.

However, there has been a very small amount of development regarding foldable display smartphones, and the only device that has been rumored to be given an iota of attention is Samsung’s Galaxy X. Though we could be seeing a foldable display device announcement this year, it does not look like such marvels of engineering are going to popularize until two years later.

Creating a foldable display smartphone is definitely going to be met with a significant number of challenges and even after that, we are not so sure that the public is ready for such an advancement. Take a look at the G5, LG’s semi-modular smartphone was very capable in the hardware department but in all honesty, the handset was announced in an era when consumers are not ready for this big a leap.

The same case can be applied to foldable display tech; according to Samsung Display’s principal engineer called Kim Tae-woong, he states that the technology is yet to mature but during the year 2019, foldable display smartphones could popularize.

“Because the bezel-free display currently sells well, we still have enough time to develop foldable display. The technology is expected to be mature around 2019.”

Chung Won-seok, an analyst at HI Investment and Securities says (via The Korea Herald) that when demand for bezel-less phones slows down, foldable display phones will start to pick up sales.

“Samsung Display is expected to commercialize foldable phones in 2019 because the company does not need to sell the new hardware because it is already enjoying 20 percent of operating profits with bezel-free display. When the demand for bezel-free handsets slows down, Samsung will unveil the foldable display as the next card.”

The first device to sport such a display is the Galaxy X, and it has been rumored to get announced later this year.